rely

verb

re·​ly ri-ˈlī 

relied; relying

intransitive verb

1

: to be dependent

the system on which we rely for water

2

: to have confidence based on experience

someone you can rely on

relier

ri-ˈlī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• calculate
• count
• depend
• lean
• reckon

Examples of rely in a Sentence

rigorously tested the rope before starting out, for the rock climbers would be relying on it with their very lives

Recent Examples on the Web

Most systems still rely on classical computing architecture to handle many tasks, which creates speed bottlenecks. —Bernard Marr, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

As philosopher Nancy Fraser has argued, capitalism relies on someone doing that work, while assigning it little to no monetized value. —Anna Mae Duane, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile, many of them rely on chips from U.S. firm Qualcomm. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025

Vladimir Putin has relied on mercenary and convict soldiers, combined with lavish bonuses for poor Russians who volunteer to try their luck against killer Ukrainian robots on the steppe. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English relien to rally, from Anglo-French relier to retie, gather, rally, from Latin religare to tie out of the way, from re- + ligare to tie — more at ligature

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rely

• rely on/upon

Rhymes for rely

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

rely

verb

re·​ly ri-ˈlī 

relied; relying

1

: to have confidence based on experience

someone you can rely on

2

: to be dependent

the system on which we rely for water

Legal Definition

rely

intransitive verb

re·​ly

relied; relying

: to depend with confidence : place faith